Blackboard construction



May 19, 1942.

c. D. LowRY 2,283,272

BLACKBOARD CONSTRUCITION Filed June 29, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 1 lil/lll]- Patented May 19, 1942 i I 2,283,272 Y Y BEACKBOARD CONSTRUCTION Clyde D. Lowry, Toledo, Ohio, assgnor to Libbey- Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application June 29, 1939, Serial No. 281,863

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to wall blackboards and moreV particularly tothe construction of a metal frame mounting therefor..

An object of the invention is the provision of novel means associated with the metal frame mounting for supporting roll maps, charts, or the like, as well as cards, posters, etc.

Another object of the invention is the provision of supporting means of the above character embodying bracket members associated with Vthe metal frame mounting in such a manner that they may be readily and conveniently shifted longitudinally of the .blackboard to the desired position and yet firmly maintained in predetermined position without the use of screws or other supplemental fastening means. Y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a blackboard constructed in accordance with the present inven.

tion;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail horizontalsection taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective sectional view of a portion of the metal frame mounting for the blackvmember which is used in conjunction with the bracket member illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section showing a diierent form of bracket member adapted par.- ticularly for hanging cards, posters, etc.; and

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section showing a modification of the metal frame mounting.

With reference to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the blackboard provided by the present invention is designated in its entirety by the numeral I0 and is mounted, by means of the metal frame mounting indicated generally at II, upon a supporting wall I2 of any desired construction. l

The blackboard. proper on which the chalk marks lare received preferably comprises one or more sheets or plates of glass I3, although it can be made of slate or any other suitable material. When glass sheets are used, however,v 55;

and similar composition panels vI5 and IE canV be arranged at opposite sides thereof. The panels I4, I5, and I5 may or may not be used, as preferred, but,'if used, are provided for the mounting of papers, etc. by means of thumb tacks, stickers, or the like. Y

The metal 'frame mounting II comprises the upper and lower horizontal sections II and I8 and thel vertical side sections I9 and 20 associated withv one another to form a rectangular Y frame and preferably mitered at their adjacent ends yas indicated at 2l. Arranged between and 20 connecting the adjacent horizontal edges of the blackboard I3 and composition panel I4 isa horizontal division molding or muntin 22, while similar Vertical division moldings or muntins 23 cludes generally a fixed rear member. secured to the supporting Wall I2, a movable front member, and means for removably clamping the blackboard I3 and composition panels I4, I5 and Ii between the said xed and movable members.

Referring particularly to the bottom` metal frame section I8, the fixed rear member thereof comprises a vertical back wall 25 secured to the supporting wall I2 by screws or the like 26. 'I he back wall 25 is provided at its upper end witha longitudinallyextending flange 21 engaging the inner face of the glass sheet I3 Vconstituting the blackboard proper. Formed integral with the back wall 25 is a substantially horizontal shelf 28 upon which are mounted a plurality of spaced setting blocks 2S for supporting the sheet I3 a its lower edge. y As shown in Fig.A 2, the shelf 28 extends forwardly and upwardly to provide an inclinedupper surface 35,.whi1e the bottom surface3l of each setting block 29 is correspondingly beveled. With this arrangement, the setting blocks 29 will normally tend to slide or work rearwardly against tially horizontal chalk and eraser receiving trough 34, the bottom of which is preferably .cor-y rugated to provide longitudinally extending.

grooves for receiving the chalkand' eraser: The inner end portion 35 of the trough is preferably fiat and cooperates with the shelf 28 to provide a forwardly facing, horizontalchannel 36. for.l receiving therein the inturned lower end` 31 of the movable front member 38.

The` front member r38 covers theshelf .28;and,

setting; blocks yzs-andis provided; at its upper endlA with a ilan'ge 39'enga'ging1 the outer face of the blackboard-,I3 .oppositefiia-nge 21. The front member` 38- may; have ganygdesiredprolei and is removably secured inA place iny clampingrelation with ther blackboardby: screws 40 which pass through openings in said front member and also through openingspintheback wall 25 of the rear member, being threadedat their innerendsin thesupporting `wall: I2. By properly adjusting the., fastening; screws 40; the. desired ,clamping pressure can be exerted upon ltheblackboard. to`

hold, it firmly in place without danger of. cracking the. same.

Theftop section I1 andvertical sidesections I9 and. 230i the metal framemounting each comprises a xed rearmemberl and. a front member 42. removably associatedtherewith. TheVY rear .member 4 I is securedto the lsupportingwall.

I2,by screws 43 While-V the ,front..member.is.. securedin place byscrewsfM... 'I'he composition panelsl4, I5 and I6rest.againstzthesupporting. wall I2;and .are4 heldin placeeby the flange. 45 formedon the front member 42 of ,the respective frame section. TheY front and rear... members ofA the top, and verticalside sectionsV vofthe metal.

frame mounting are ofsubstantially the .same constructionand are associatedwith. one. an-

otherV in. ,substantially the:l same` manner as.. the. front and rearmembers ofthebottomi section I8, as willbe clearlyk seen fromthe drawings,

so that a more detaileddescription. thereof is;

not thought to be necessary.

The horizontalv divisiony molding 22- and. vertical division moldings 23-and .Z4-each` comprises a fixed` rear member- 46.and aimovable-v front member 49; The rear member46 is securedto the supporting wall I2 ,byscrews141tand has. a flange 48 engaging the rear surface .of the Vblackboard I3. The front;member 49 is. removablyV secured. in place byl screws f 52. and. isY also. provided at one end with. a. fiange5.engaging.the front surface of the blackboard :and at itsopposite end witha flange 5| engagingtheouter surface of the respectivecompositmn panel I4,r I50r I6..

As pointed out above, the present yinvention also contemplates the provision of novel means.

associated with` theY metal.V frame. mountingl for supportingroll maps, charts, and thelike.` The means provided for .this purpose` comprises the.

spacedbracket members 53 .and 54 (Figi) asso?- ciated with the topsection I1 of the metalframe.`

and shown as supporting a `rollmap 55. Inacf.

cordance with the invention, the upper end 56 of the rear member 4I of the top section is provided with a longitudinally extending, arcuately curved channel 51. Each bracket member 53 and 54 includes an elongated, substantially cylindrical body portion 58 adapted to be slidably and rotatably received within the channel 51. Formed integral with the body portion 58 is a forwardly directed, substantially horizontal arm 59 connected with said body portion by a verti-V calweb 6U. The arm 58 is provided at its outer end with a head 6I and the head of bracket member.53`is provided with a horizontal opening 62..(Fig. 5), while the head of bracket member 54is'provided' with a horizontal slot 63. This arrangementisprovided so that one end of the rod supporting the roll map or the like 55 can be. slipped` into theopening 62 in bracket member 53-fand the other end thereof dropped into the slot 53 in bracket member 54. This is particularly desirable. where ,the rolljmap is ofthe spring-operated rolle-r shade type.

The innerzsurfaceof'thefchannelm51 is -arcshaped,' ,while the outer.surface.64;of. the body portion 58 Yof-"ea-chl bracket member153 andf54 is, alsoarc-shapedfronr the; point a to point b :(Fig. 5) and eccentric with respect to .said arc-shaped portion from; points. bf to.c toprovide a-,wedge portion. The body; portions; 58s'A of.; the bracket members l:arethereby -so shaped .with respect y to the channel-.51 thatwhen the bracket-members are inoperative position,-as shown in; full lines.

in Fig., 4, th'e saidlbodyzportionswill bindt `,with-in the channel-.sorthatitheibracketfmembers are prevented from, sliding.4 longitudinally. of the blackboard. In thisi way,; after. they bracket members .53., and.; 54 havefzbeen arranged. the desiredv 'posi-tion: and itheimapj. 55 for rinstance, associated therewith, thesaid .bracket members cannotv be moved-1v longitudinally of: the :blackboard .toprevent :accidental ldisplacement off. fthe map. On the '.other. hand, when itis. desiredoto move the bracket members longitudinally of :the blackboard.k it .is simply necessary to. swing ...them

4 5l. upwardly to the position indicated .,in.A broken lines in Fig. 4, whereupon the wedge portions will be moved outwardly. of; the .channel and binding action between the .body-portions.. 5Iand.r wall. of the channel relieved., Howeven: after the-A bracket members have been slid to the-.desiredi position and permittedlxto.'dropndownwardlyto full line position, they.' will belrmly. securedfinplace.v In this. way,;the bracket. .members-1 are: firmly securedcins placewithout .the use 'of-screws@ other supplemental fastening means. To prevent the body rportions 58 of thee bracketmembersl from binding too;ti'ghtly1'withm theAv channel..51.;I the.

body portion of .eachabracket'memberris. provided with a ri'b..65 formingiashouldenz whichabuts the edge .61 .of thecframe member .56 and. thereby preventsfurther.. rotatable movementiofthe. Vbody.

portion withinthe; channel;

Anotherfeaturerofzthe invention .is the provision iof. the:longitudinally. extending: grooves 63 inthev outer-surfaceaothebody portion 58 vof. eachbracket member.: Thesegrooves .are'.adapted, upon; sliding rmovement ofthe. bracket meme bers to.: diierent positiornto. receive-.any lclust land dirt which' may' collect inthe channel. In other words, if these grooves were .notprovidedandthe body; portions: 58ffof.the 4bracket members were made.:tosnuglylit:theechannel 51r any slid.- ing, movementl .of the 1,b1acke.t..members'v would cause. the dust and-dirt.M to pile up; infront of the body portions: thereof and-gin; this way hinder or prevent free sliding movement of the bracket members. With the construction provided, however, upon sliding movement of the bracket mem-Y bers, any dirt or dust in the channel 51 will pass through the grooves 6B and will thereby not interfere with the desired movement of the bracket members.

In Fig. 6 is disclosed a modified form of bracket member which is particularly adaptable for supporting cards, posters, and the like. The bracket member, designated 69, is associated with the upper metal frame section in the same manner as disclosed in Figs. 2 and 4. The principal difference is that the bracket member 69 is formed with a hook portion 'II from which a card or the like 'I2 may be hung. One or any desired number of such bracket members may be employed and individual cards or the like can behung from each bracket member or a relatively large card or the like supported by two or more of the bracket members. The metal frame section 'IQ is here shown as directly engaging the blackboard panel I3 and includes a rear member I3 secured to the supporting wall I2 by screws 'M and provided with a flange 'I5 engaging the rear surface of the blackboard. The front member 'I6 has a flange 'I8 engaging the front surface of the blackboard and the said front member is removably secured in place by screws 11.

In Fig. '7 is illustrated another modification in which the division molding 22a, extending horizontally between the blackboard I3 and composition panel I4, is constructed to support the bracket members which may be either of the type shown in Figs. 4 and 5 or the type shown in Fig. 6. The division molding 22a comprises a back wall 'I9 secured to the supporting wall I2 by screws 80. The back wall 19 of the molding is provided at its lower end with a ila-nge 8| adapted to engage the rear surface of the blackboard. Intermediate its upper and lower ends, the back wall is provided with a forwardly directed, horizontal shelf 32 with which is formed the two longitudinally extending side portions 83 and 84 defining therebetween a channel 85 similar to the channel 51 above described.

The side portion 84 of channel 85 is formed at its upper end with a longitudinally extending forwardly curved lip 86 and associated therewith is the upper front member 81. This front member is provided at its lower end with a bead 88 adapted to engage and fulcrum upon lip 86 and at its upper end with a flange 89 engaging the front surface of the composition panel I4. The front member 81 is removably secured in place by screws 99. The horizontal shelf 82 is also formed upon its bottom surface with a forwardly curved lip 9| with which is associated the lower front member 92. The front member 92 is provided at its upper end with a bead 93 adapted to engage and fulcrurn upon the lip SI, while the lower end of said front member is provided with a flange 94 engaging the front surface of the blackboard I3. The lower front member may be secured in place by screws 95.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a horizontal metal member having a longitudinally extending channel therein circular in cross section, and bracket members each having a substantially cylindrical body portion slidably received within said channel and another portion adapted for supporting a roll map, cards or the like, said body portion being rotatable within said channel on a plane transversely to the said channel, the outer surface of said body portion being formed with two arcuate portions extending circumferentially thereof and disposed at opposite sides of the vertical center of the said body portion and being struck from different centers, the distance between two diametrically opposed points on said opposite arcuate surface portions being greater than the diameter of said channel whereby to cause a wedging of the said body portion within the said channel upon rotation thereof. l

2. In a device of the character described, a horizontal metal member having a longitudinally extending channel therein circular in cross section, and bracket members each having a substantially cylindrical body portion slidably received within said channel and another portion adapted for supporting a roll map, cards or the like, said body portion being .rotatable within said channel on a plane. transversely to the said channel, the outer surface of said body portion being formed with two arcuate portions extending circumferentially thereof and disposed at opposite sides of the vertical center of the said body portion and being struck from different centers, the distance between two diametrically opposed points on said opposite arcuate surface portions being greater than the diameter of said channel whereby to cause a wedging of the said body portion within the said channel upon rotation thereof, said body portion being provided with a rib outwardly of said channel forming a shoulder engaging said metal member to limit the rotating movement of the said body portion within the said channel.

3. In a device of the character described, a horizontal metal member having a longitudinally extending channel therein circular in cross section, and bracket members each having a substantially cylindricalbody portion slidably received within said channel and another portion adapted for supporting a roll map, cards or the like, said body portion being rotatable within said channel on a plane transversely to the said channel, the outer surface of said body portion being formed with two arcuate portions extending circumferentially thereof and disposed at opposite sides of the vertical center of the said body portion and being struck from different centers, the distance between two diametrically opposed points on said opposite arcuate surface portions being greater than the diameter of said channel whereby to cause a wedging of the said body portion within the said channel upon rotation thereof, said body portion being provided with longitudinally extending grooves in the outer surface thereof and within said channel.

4. In a device of the character described, a horizontal metal member having a longitudinally extending channel therein circular in cross section, and bracket members each having a substantially cylindrical body portion slidably received within said channel and another portion adapted for supporting a roll map, cards or the like, said body portion being rotatable within said channel on a plane transversely to the said channel, the outer suface of said body portion being formed with two arcuate portions extending circumferentially tlriereoixand arange'cl diametrically opposite one another and'having different centers offset .with '.:respect fto Lthe flongitu'dinal center of `said channel, the distance: between the upper end of .onesaid arcuatefportion and-fthe lower end of saidi,other;,arcuate:portion Vbeing greaterthanpthe diameter of .said channelwhereby to cause-a wedging ofthe saidbodyportion Within the said channelfuponzrotationtthereof.

5 In a device of the character described, :a horizontal metal member having .a longitudinally extending channel ,therein circular in cross section,.andbracket members each having ya substantially cylindrical body `,portion slidablyreceived .within said. channel :and another portion adapted: for supportingca .roll map, .cards or..the like, said bodyportion being rotatablewithin said channel on a plane transversely to thesaid channel, .the outersurface .of said. body portion being Vformed kwith `two Larcuate portions extending circumferentially thereof .andiarranged diametrically opposite .one another andhaving 4different centers offset with respect v.tothe 4longitudinal center ofasaid channel,.the distance vbetweenthe upper end of .one -said arcuate portionand `the lower end of said ,other.arcuate portion being greater thanthe diameter. of said charme] whereby to cause a :wedging of the said-loodyportion Within the said channel uponrotation lthereof,

sald'body portion vbeing provided with a rib outwardly; of 4'said channelfforming Aa shoulder engagingsaid metal member .to limit the rotating movement of the saidvbody portion within the said channel.

6. In a device of the character described, a horizontal metal member having a longitudinally extending channeltherein circular in cross section,and bracket members each having asubstantiallyv cylindrical body portion slidably received within said channel and another portion adapted for supporting a roll map, cards or the like, said body portion being rotatable within said channel on a plane transversely to the said channel, the outer surface of said body-portion being-formed with two arcuate portions extending circumferentially rthereof and arranged diametrically opposite one another and vhaving different centers offset with respectto thelongitudnal center of said channel, the distance between the upper end of onefsaid arcuate portion and the lower end of said other arcuate ,portion being greater than the diameter of said channel whereby to cause a wedging of the said body portion Within thesaid channel upon rotation thereof, said body portion being provided with longitudinally extending grocvesin the -outer surface thereof and Within said channel.

CLYDE D. LOWRY. 

